Your Weekend: Nordic Art or Heavy Metal Islam?

We are almost at the weekend, and ready to get up from our desks and turn our eyes away from the radiant glare of the computer screen.

Here are a few upcoming multicultural events that may be of interest:

For those of you that love to travel, but can’t afford the airfare or the time at the moment:

Chilean Evening
Fundraiser for the Firehall Arts Centre features Chilean wine, appetizers, desserts, and a performance of Tarragon Theatre’s Léo. More information at www.firehallartscentre.ca/
Feb. 28, 2008, 6:30 pm
Tix $49.95
Firehall Arts Centre (280 E. Cordova)

Nordic Art And Photography Show And Sale
More than 150 works of art by artists of Nordic descent or of a Nordic theme. More information at www.scandinaviancentre.org/
March 1, 2008, 11 am-4 pm
Free admission
Scandinavian Centre (6540 Thomas St., Burnaby)

Or, maybe you are more interested in the nuances of culture…

Heavy Metal Islam
Rock musician and University of California historian Mark LeVine discusses his new book, which explores the relationship between heavy-metal, hip-hop, rock, and punk musicians and their more conservative and religious peers across the Muslim world.
Feb. 29, 2008, 7 pm
Free admission, reservations required
SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings)

8th Annual Chutzpah! Festival
The Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Arts features more than 25 performances and workshops with over 100 international, Canadian, and local artists creating a multicultural celebration of music, theatre, dance, and comedy. Highlights include The J.A.P. Show: The Princesses of Comedy, Balkan Beat Box, Aszure & Artists, Amber Funk Barton, the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band, Tracey Erin Smith, Socalled, and the world premiere of Kaeja d’Dance’s Abattoir. More information at www.chutzpahfestival.com/
To March 2, 2008
Events also take place at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (UBC) Jewish Community Centre (950 W. 41st)

And, here are some events to engage your activism:

Struggles Against Racism Are Not Over
Several antiracist groups and unions present an afternoon and evening of film, food, and speakers, including Lee Maracle, Sadhu Binning, Rita Wong, and Raul Gatica. More information at noii-van@resist.ca/
March 1, 2008, 4:30 pm
Free admission
Bonsor Recreation Complex (6550 Bonsor, Burnaby)

Youth Conference On Darfur
Amnesty International, Canadian Students for Darfur, Oxfam Canada, and UNICEF Canada host a moden-UN–style discussion of the Darfur conflict, plus a number of guest speakers. More information at www.darfur2008.com/
March 2, 2008, 9 am-5 pm

Tour D’afrique
Fundraiser featuring musical performances by John Mann and others for Vancouver writer and cyclist Miranda Huron to cycle from Cairo to Cape Town in a race that rasies money to purchase bicycle ambulances in Africa. More information at mhuron78@gmail.com
March 2, 2008, 1-4 pm
Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy)

Bridging The Gap
The UBC chapter of Engineers Without Borders presents a conference on addressing global poverty and highlighting international development, featuring a keynote address by Senator Roméo Dallaire. More information at www.vancouver.ewb.ca/bridgingthegap/
March 15, 2008, 9 am-5 pm
$60 general $25 students
Empire Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street)

And finally, something for the poet in you, no matter the language you choose to express your soul in:

Poetry Around The World
Open-mike multilingual readings hosted by Lucia Gorea, with writing exercises given at the end of each event.
Second Wed of each month, 6:30 pm
Free admission
Indigo Books and Music (900 Park Royal South, West Van.)

Kiran Ahluwalia at the Christ Church Cathedral

Now that the Cultural Olympiad – the multiculture-embracing, arts-supporting iniative of VANOC – has officially launched, there will be events all over town until the Olympics are over “created by a bold spectrum of local, national and international artists.”

This weekend, in association with Coastal Jazz and Blues, Kiran Ahluwalia is performing. From the promotional information: “Ahluwalia may be one of the only composers of contemporary ghazals in Canada and perhaps the Western Hemisphere. Because there is such a vast repertoire of this music today, there are very few ghazal composers – even in India.”

A ghazal is a poetic form made up of rhyming couplets and a refrain. Each line must share the same meter. The ghazal can be seen as the original pop song, dealing exclusively with love and loss, and all the ecstasy and pain of loss inherent.

When:

February 23, 2008 at 20:00

Where:
Christ Church Cathedral
690 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia

Year of the Rat

We have officially entered the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese calendar lunar year, and we have had a little theme here on the Hummingbird Blog of reminding you about the wonderful cultural centres our city has, so it seemed appropriate to mention the Chinese Cultural Centre. This centre is adjacent to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen gardens and offers an array of services from language classes to walking tours, as well as a museum and archives.

They have a great list of volunteer positions as well. Here are a few of the skills they are looking for: Tai Chi, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Painting, Chinese Knotting or Lion Dance Instructor.

Why not make some new new years resolutions, and either volunteer, or take one of the classed offered at the Chinese Cultural centre.

Canada, My India

This Sunday there is an interesting event, which is part of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad prerogative to highlight arts and culture in conjunction with the Olympics.

The title is: Canada, My India. It takes place at the Norman Rothstein Theatre (950 West 41st) . A list of artists, from dancers to musicians, will be performing pieces that showcase the similarities in Indian and Canadian/Western arts.

To find out more, click here.

Vive le Français

The French Cultural Centre is a wonderful resource for those of us that want to keep up with our French. They have French book discussion groups as well as writing groups for non-Francophones, both of which have classes this month and next. They also have a fabulous selection of French language films.

If you want to contact them, their info is on their website.

Also don’t forget to have a meal at Salade de Fruits, the fabulous and deliciously reasonable French restaurant in the lobby of the Centre. For dinner they do a table d’hote, which changes every week. This upcoming week is: Rôti de boeuf aux pleurotes et herbes. They are also doing a special Valentine’s day dinner, for the evening of the 14th. Or, go for their weekend brunch.

They are cash only so remember to find an ATM before you arrive.

Bon Appétit

Choral Music from Six Continents

What is the sound of six continents singing? Now, say that three times quickly.

The Vancouver Chamber Choir annual National Symposium Concert is performing “songs from all around the world… (T)he choral music of Six Continents – Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, North & South America.”

The event is being held this Saturday (February 9th) at 8:00 p.m. at Ryerson United Church (2195 W. 45th Ave – at Yew St.)

Multicultural Health in 2008

New immigrants to the Lower Mainland usually arrive excited, healthy and ready to contribute to their new communities. But the stress of re-establishing a working and social network can overshadow the need for proactive health care.

The Multicultural Health Fair on February 23rd is an event that strives to connect people and multi-lingual health resources in Vancouver. To support this year’s theme of “Promoting Multicultural Health” there will be cooking & fitness work shops, health screenings and healthcare exhibitors. If you are a health and wellness organization, and you would like to offer your services to Vancouver’s multi-cultural communities, this would be a great place to do it. Hummingbird is offering a discounted rate to help you translate your materials in preparation for the event. Contact us to discuss.

*Important note to translators: The Fair is in need of volunteer interpreters. For more information on how you can get involved, visit the Multicultural Health Fair site. 

Ciao!

Got a spare $25? Why not become a member of the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver? Here are 10 outstanding reasons why:

10) The language classes: From beginner to intermediate, the classes span from Italian for business to conversation classes. Sì!

9) Cooking and wine tasting classes: Naturally.

The Viva Italia! class: Our favorite! Six evenings of food, music, art and cinema. A true Italian cultural experience.

7) B-I-N-G-O. No cultural centre is complete without bingo, but the ICC boasts $12,000 in payouts every week for the past 3 months!

6) Jobs: Being the Assistant to the Italian Cultural Director sounds like a good gig. The position is currently open.

5) Catering: Tasty menus created by the centre’s very own Italian chef.

4) Library: Once you’ve signed up for your Italian classes, you may want to supplement your new lingo with some Italian classics. By the way, the library is looking for volunteers so you can give back a bit.

3) Cinema: Monthly showcase of Italian films.

2) INDOOR BOCCE COURTS! Enjoy this traditional Italian game (and a Vancouver beach favorite) throughout the rainy season.

1) The best reason to become a member: The centre’s mission since 1976 to share Italian culture with the community.

To that we say, grazie!